Penn State looks to clinch CHA title and spoil RIT's playoff hopes

After an upsetting weekend against RMU, Penn State ultimately failed to clinch the CHA title by going 0-1-1.

Penn State now heads home for the final series of the season with Mercyhurst in striking range of stealing the CHA title.

Penn State has an 18-12-2 overall with a 13-4-1 record in the CHA which gives them 27 points. Mercyhurst has a 16-15-1 record overall with a 12-6-0 record in the CHA for 24 points.

The clinching scenario is Penn State needs one point to clinch the CHA title. That means that all they need to do is win a game or tie a game.

If Penn State goes 0-1-1 on the weekend, they would still clinch if Mercyhurst wins out because they have the tie-breaker. The tie-breaker is that Penn State won the season series 3-1.

Penn State had a rough showing against RMU where they had a chance to clinch the CHA title but failed to. In Game 1, Penn State blew a 2-0 and 4-2 lead and the game ended in a tie.

In Game 2, Penn State blew a 2-0 and 3-1 lead. The Nittany Lions let up a goal to Janelle Evans in the final two minutes to allow RMU to tie the game. Evans would score the overtime winner to hand Penn State a crushing loss.

Some better news for the Nittany Lions is Brianna Brooks received CHA Forward of the Week. Brooks had three goals and one assist last weekend and has 24 points in her last 16 games played.

Brooks could be a key factor for Penn State this weekend along with Tessa Janecke and Katie DeSa.

For RIT, they went 1-1-0 this weekend against Syracuse which featured a 1-0 shutout win by Sophia Bellina. Bellina leads the CHA in GAA with 2.09 and a .932 save percentage.

RIT is on the cusp of clinching the final spot in the CHA playoffs but it does not completely control its own destiny.

RIT is tied in points with Lindenwood with 14. Lindenwood is set to face off against RMU this weekend.

Obviously, the team that gets the most points will get the spot, but what happens if they tie? Unfortunately for RIT, Lindenwood holds the tiebreaker with a 3-1 series win over RIT.

To make matters even worse for RIT, they are 17-32-6 all-time against PSU. Behind that record is a dreadful 2-17-5 when visiting Penn State.

One key factor that may help RIT is the potential absence of captain Julie Gough. Head coach Jeff Kampersal was hopeful that Gough could play in this series but it is unclear if she will.

Gough has missed the last six games due to an undisclosed injury along with goaltender Josie Bothun. Bothun played in both games the last time these two teams met. Bothun had a shutout and a 3-2 overtime loss that weekend.

The numbers point to Penn State winning at least a game this series to clinch the title, but do not count this pesky RIT team out. The Tigers have their backs against the wall as they need to win this series.

For all we know, Penn State can go 0-2 this series and face off against this same RIT team in the CHA playoffs. If Penn State does clinch the title, they will take on whoever gets the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.

Matt Becker is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email mcb6250@psu.edu.